The Iron
Crown

But this time the Queen uprose, and there was no swaying.

Her mouth opened for the first time ever, as it seemed, and with confidence she uttered her first words.

O joy!

Were they not words in praise of my own self?

"Ralubut of Halubut that is, you have brought me speech.

The Realm of the Seven Boats and the Daemons of the Silent Valley give thrice thanks."

I swooned.

The room misted over, yet it seemed that in the corner some human arm, lacking a hand, drew back the black curtain.

Try as I might I could do nothing to move to her aid, and in my final attempt at a shout of warning I knew that that kiss had cost me the gift of speech.

It seemed certain that enemies were come.

My eyes were still in a mist but my ears could hear, and what I heard filled me with the deepest terror.

At the twenty-third hour, some rival King was to take the Queen with no name.

I listened, overcome with horror.

"Queen that is," spoke the voice, almost familiar as it seemed, "Waited thou hast, these months, and these years. And waited have I. What man, be he king or swain, can ask for marriage from the dumb? And what suitor would bring speech to his lady's lips, only to lose in himself the power of praising her?

"Long have I worried, long sought. Long have the powers of the earth and sky conspired against our union. Yet now is come the time. Shalt thou be mine in marriage, for ever, for ever, and for ever?"

And through the mist which lingered still a simple reply came from the lips of the Queen with no name.

"Yes," she said.